Adoption Fee Breakdown 

Adoption fees at BTR vary by dog. Below is a chart to help explain our adoption fees. Payment is accepted upon adoption of the pet. We accept payment types including cash and credit card. The adoption fee is used to pay for the following. Please note that every pet’s needs are different and this is a generalization, your pet might not receive certain care if they are not old enough, or might require additional care to what is listed. The adopter receives comprehensive medical records at the time of adoption. The adoption fee is a fixed price, and this template is to give you a general idea of what the adoption fee typically covers. In some instances, fees may not follow the chart below. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us directly at adopt@bordertailsrescue.org. Due to rising veterinary costs, we have increased our adoption fees slightly to help keep up. Thank you for your understanding!

PUPPIES & DOGS UNDER 1 YEAR OLD: $600

DOGS OVER 1 YEAR OLD, HEARTWORM NEGATIVE: $500

PITBULLS OVER 1 YEAR: $300

HEARTWORM POSITIVE DOGS: $600

DOGS RESCUED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES: $700

GUARDIAN ANGEL PROGRAM: $600-$800

Guardian angel adoption fee program

Certain dogs who come through our program have higher adoption fees. Dogs in this program are generally purebred, specialty breeds, poodle mixes, large breeds, puppies who are fixed, etc. We use the additional funds for this program to help lower adoption fees for pitbulls and long term dogs, as well as pull medically challenging dogs. Only certain dogs are slotted into this program, please inquire if you aren’t sure.

SPAY OR NEUTER SURGERY

Did you know it is a law in Illinois for all rescue dogs to be spayed or neutered? Even if it wasn't a law, Border Tails Rescue would spay/neuter all their adoptable pets to help reduce the amount of homeless pets in our country. Fixing your pet also helps reduce your pet's risk of ovarian/testicular cancer. Our adoption fee includes the spay/neuter surgery (completed prior to adoption) or done during the foster to adopt period at our vet in Naperville, IL or Joliet, IL. For an additional $100, we can do the surgery with our vet in Des Plaines, IL or for $150 additional we can do it at our clinic in Chicago. The reason for the additional cost is because that is how much more it costs us to have it done as they are a full service clinic.

Vaccines

Your pet is up to date on vaccines at the time of adoption. These vaccines make sure your pet has immunity to many diseases. Your pet receives a rabies vaccine (if over the age of 4 months) , a DAPPV vaccine (or 2-3 depending on their age), as well as a Bordetella vaccine.

Your pet’s transport

This expense is where most of your adoption fee is going to if you are adopting a dog from Mexico or a rural southern shelter in the US. It can be expensive to fly your pet back to the US but this is a necessary cost when rescuing dogs INTERNATIONALLY.

Other basic costs:

  • A month of food $30

  • Flea/tick preventative $20 monthly

  • Heartworm preventative $10 monthly

  • Deworming- it is important to get your pet on a routine schedule of deworming, so Border Tails Rescue starts it by deworming for the basic parasites. If other parasites are exhibited, we deworm for those as well.

  • Staff- we make sure our dogs are attended to around the clock, including overnight care.

  • Rent & utilities to give dogs a safe, warm (or cool!) and loving place to live temporarily.

  • Enrichment, toys, treats, etc.

Microchip and lifetime enrollment

Border Tails Rescue microchips all pets before adoption to ensure that if they ever get lost without their identification tags, they can find their way home. Enrollment fees are paid for (unless microchipped prior to arrival) and your pet is automatically registered to your information at the time of adoption.

Heartworm test

Your pet is heartworm tested by Border Tails Rescue to ensure they are negative. If a pet is heartworm positive, they receive treatment at no additional cost to the adopter.

Many dogs need extensive medical care to nurse them back to health. Common illnesses/diseases we see are treatment for mange, ringworm, corrective surgeries, therapy, kennel cough, parvovirus, dental surgeries, gastropexies, cherry eye, entropion and the list goes on. 

PLEASE NOTE: No matter what care your pet receives with Border Tails Rescue, the fee is listed above. The fees are non-negotiable.